Chronic pain Support - I'm suprised there isn't much talk about Prolotherapy?

Author

I'm suprised there isn't much talk about Prolotherapy?

Gaius Baltar

2005-06-27, 9:28 am

After seeing a "report" on the local news channel about Prolotherapy
I did some quick googling on it / asked my doc about the procedure.

On the web you get the usual dichotomy; the amazing success stories
(via web pages selling the procedure) and horror stories on a few
discussion boards about doc's messing up injections causing
sciatica e.t.c. The truth of course , well I have no clue where
the truth is on this procedure.

from
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshe...25,934,00.html:
Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical treatment for damaged ligaments that
relieves musculoskeletal pain. An irritant solution is injected into
areas where ligaments are weak, triggering the body to heal the injury
and thereby naturally strengthen the joint.

It sounded highly "quackish" upon initial examination, shooting
sugar water into injured areas of the body, hoping for
increased blood flow. I've talked to a couple of people
undergoing the procedure 2 of which are going through
immense amounts of pain, one of which may stop it
all together. It is performed by a nerologist, not in
the back of some health food store by some quack and I guess
it's gaining support in some circles in the medical
community (while much of it remains skeptical with good reason).

It can involve up to six months of heavy injections
into your back. I can see why it would be painful.

The claims on the web are very impressive, which of
course makes me highly skeptical off the bat. However,
on the surface (and given my zero education in the medical
field) it sounds like maybe there might be something to
it? If you can get blood flow going again, perhaps the
body can repair itself (such as the reasons why DDD
occours - lack of blood supply near the discs)?

thoughts?

Rosemarie Shiver

2005-06-27, 9:29 am

It's salt water, mostly, and it is an irritant that damages ligaments and
tendons. If yer into scar tissue, go for it. The rigidity it causes is the
point...rigid tendons and ligaments holding things in place rather than the
flexible natural state. As for me, even tho' I have many problems due to
hypermobility, I'll pass.

I know about it from the EDS mailing list where there has been serious
permanent damage to some of us trying to correct the laxity of ligaments and
tendons. :-(

Many start out with a neurologist's injections and end up with an
orthopod doing arthroscopic repair. Sounds like a RICO situation, don't it?
Mebbe that's a bit extreme, but...don't do it. It's like Botox in yer
face....the results need surgery to correct.

No Prolo Hugs from Rosie

Don't take the risk, ok?

--
"If you wanna get it done, you gotta fight for yourself." -- Meat Loaf, Bat
Outta Hell II
"Gaius Baltar" <dr.baltar@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1119813062.863364.308740@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> After seeing a "report" on the local news channel about Prolotherapy
> I did some quick googling on it / asked my doc about the procedure.
>
> On the web you get the usual dichotomy; the amazing success stories
> (via web pages selling the procedure) and horror stories on a few
> discussion boards about doc's messing up injections causing
> sciatica e.t.c. The truth of course , well I have no clue where
> the truth is on this procedure.
>
> from
> http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshe...25,934,00.html:
> Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical treatment for damaged ligaments that
> relieves musculoskeletal pain. An irritant solution is injected into
> areas where ligaments are weak, triggering the body to heal the injury
> and thereby naturally strengthen the joint.
>
> It sounded highly "quackish" upon initial examination, shooting
> sugar water into injured areas of the body, hoping for
> increased blood flow. I've talked to a couple of people
> undergoing the procedure 2 of which are going through
> immense amounts of pain, one of which may stop it
> all together. It is performed by a nerologist, not in
> the back of some health food store by some quack and I guess
> it's gaining support in some circles in the medical
> community (while much of it remains skeptical with good reason).
>
> It can involve up to six months of heavy injections
> into your back. I can see why it would be painful.
>
> The claims on the web are very impressive, which of
> course makes me highly skeptical off the bat. However,
> on the surface (and given my zero education in the medical
> field) it sounds like maybe there might be something to
> it? If you can get blood flow going again, perhaps the
> body can repair itself (such as the reasons why DDD
> occours - lack of blood supply near the discs)?
>
> thoughts?
>

Gaius Baltar

2005-06-29, 11:48 am

Thanks Rosie.

Crap it sounded too good to be true. Hopefully my OCD wont get
the best of me and I wont go seek it out (and get some pro-prolo doc)
to convince me other wise.

best wishes.

gb

Mike Berkowitz

2005-06-29, 10:49 pm

On 26 Jun 2005 12:11:02 -0700, "Gaius Baltar" <dr.baltar@gmail.com>
wrote:

>After seeing a "report" on the local news channel about Prolotherapy
>I did some quick googling on it / asked my doc about the procedure.
>
>On the web you get the usual dichotomy; the amazing success stories
>(via web pages selling the procedure) and horror stories on a few
>discussion boards about doc's messing up injections causing
>sciatica e.t.c. The truth of course , well I have no clue where
>the truth is on this procedure.
>
>from
>http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshe...25,934,00.html:
>Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical treatment for damaged ligaments that
>relieves musculoskeletal pain. An irritant solution is injected into
>areas where ligaments are weak, triggering the body to heal the injury
>and thereby naturally strengthen the joint.
>
>It sounded highly "quackish" upon initial examination, shooting
>sugar water into injured areas of the body, hoping for
>increased blood flow. I've talked to a couple of people
>undergoing the procedure 2 of which are going through
>immense amounts of pain, one of which may stop it
>all together. It is performed by a nerologist, not in
>the back of some health food store by some quack and I guess
>it's gaining support in some circles in the medical
>community (while much of it remains skeptical with good reason).
>
>It can involve up to six months of heavy injections
>into your back. I can see why it would be painful.
>
>The claims on the web are very impressive, which of
>course makes me highly skeptical off the bat. However,
>on the surface (and given my zero education in the medical
>field) it sounds like maybe there might be something to
>it? If you can get blood flow going again, perhaps the
>body can repair itself (such as the reasons why DDD
>occours - lack of blood supply near the discs)?
>
>thoughts?

The first pain doctor I saw at UCSF suggested this treatment for my
neck. His replacement said it was no longer being used as it was not
very helpful.

Has anyone here been helped by this treatment? If so, what were your
symptoms?

Mike